GSFL 2024: Sharks stunning last-half response praised by coach Jamie Ramm as they book third straight GF spot

Albany coach Jamie Ramm has praised his side’s strong response after erasing a 32-point quarter-time deficit against the Royals to advance straight through to their third successive Great Southern Football League grand final. In a match littered with repeat stoppages in heavy conditions, the Sharks emerged 16-point victors over the Lions in a rousing qualifying final at Retravision Stadium on Saturday. It was always going to be a matter of who made the most of the strong breeze and the Lions looked like they had done just that, keeping the Sharks scoreless and booting five first-quarter goals with two each to Corey Ward and Nic Ashford. Kleemann Medal contender Declan McNamara then kicked truly from beyond the arc on the stroke of quarter-time to take a 32-point lead into the first break. But when it was the Sharks’ turn, the reigning premiers booted seven unanswered goals to take a 10-point lead into half-time. The Sharks got the perfect start in the second when Bailey Taylor manufactured a goal from nothing in the goal square before Sean Plaisted trophy winner Brett Peake and Harry Hordacre combined in a minute to make it three goals in quick succession. Approaching half-time, Brock Anning finished off a brilliantly worked coast-to-coast goal to make it seven straight for the Sharks, who had grappled back the lead. Ramm said it was vital his side responded in such strong fashion. “(Royals) were very good early but it was a pretty hard game for both teams and in pretty terrible conditions,” he said. “I suppose you always hope you’re never out of it. (The start) wasn’t ideal for us and I said to them ‘if we can get back a couple goals and get to half-time, we can reassess’. “We let ourselves down and we had to work our way back into it and they responded.” But a stellar third term from the Sharks, who were led by their star-studded midfield, was where the game was won. Fighting tooth and nail against a strong icy breeze, the Sharks held the Lions goalless while booting one themselves to take a 14-point lead into the final stanza and set up the 9.6 (60) to 6.8 (44) win. “It was (important) but it became a bit of a slog and both sides were tired, so thankfully we caught back up in the second because if we were still three or four down it would have been hard work,” Ramm said. “We won’t get ahead of ourselves. We will train this week and again on the weekend and get everyone right.” Kaleb Germain was the beneficiary of a brain fade from Lion Quinn Bird, who failed to hand Germain back the ball after a free kick, resulting in a 50m penalty which took the young forward to the goalline. Experienced forward Isaac Baum starred in the greasy conditions and was seemingly involved in every one of the Sharks’ offensive passages. Intercepting defender Kane Pinney was instrumental across half-back, rebounding tirelessly and was clean with his distribution. He was assisted by versatile utility Bailey Taylor, who was swung into defence and played a key role on Lions tall Hamish McMorran. Despite Lion ruck Stephen Beal winning most of the hit-outs, clearance machine Bryce Blaszkow, physical midfielder Marlin Bennett and winger Anning assumed control of the midfield. Ashford converted his third during the last quarter to spark a comeback before Peake kicked his second to seal the victory and send his side into the grand final in a fortnight. Corey Ward was terrific through the midfield and kicked two vital goals, while Ben Altus and Michael McGlade were also superb for the Lions. The Lions lost star big man Brock Higgins to a hamstring injury in the first term and despite him trying to return to the field with it heavily strapped, the former WAFL ruckman didn’t play any further part after half-time and his season appears done.